Touch panel and display device using the same

ABSTRACT

A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate. At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube layer, and carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube layer are arranged along a same direction. A display device adopting the touch panel includes the touch panel and a display element.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to commonly-assigned applications entitled,“TOUCH PANEL”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17449); “TOUCH PANEL”,field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17448); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICEUSING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17861); “TOUCH PANELAND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No.US17818); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______(Atty. Docket No. US17820); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THESAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17862); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAYDEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17863); “TOUCHPANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No.US18263); “TOUCHABLE CONTROL DEVICE”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No.US18262); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______(Atty. Docket No. US17889); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THESAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17884); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAYDEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17885); “TOUCHPANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No.US17886); “TOUCH PANEL, METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME, AND DISPLAY DEVICEADOPTING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17887); “TOUCHPANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No.US17864); “TOUCH PANEL, METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME, AND DISPLAY DEVICEADOPTING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17865); “TOUCHPANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No.US18266); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______(Atty. Docket No. US18257); “METHOD FOR MAKING TOUCH PANEL”, field______ (Atty. Docket No. US18069); “METHOD FOR MAKING TOUCH PANEL”,field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US18068); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICEUSING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17841); “TOUCH PANELAND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No.US17859); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______(Atty. Docket No. US17860); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THESAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US17857); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAYDEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No. US18258); “TOUCHPANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No.US18264); “TOUCH PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME”, field ______(Atty. Docket No. US18267); “TOUCH PANEL, METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME,AND DISPLAY DEVICE ADOPTING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. Docket No.US17839); “ELECTRONIC ELEMENT HAVING CARBON NANOTUBES”, filed ______(Atty. Docket No. US18066); and “TOUCH PANEL, METHOD FOR MAKING THESAME, AND DISPLAY DEVICE ADOPTING THE SAME”, field ______ (Atty. DocketNo. US17858). Disclosures of the above-identified applications areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to touch panels and, particularly, to acarbon nanotube based touch panel and a display device adopting thesame.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Following the advancement in recent years of various electronicapparatuses, such as mobile phones, car navigation systems and the like,toward high performance and diversification, there has been continuousgrowth in the number of electronic apparatuses equipped with opticallytransparent touch panels at the front of their respective displaydevices (e.g., liquid crystal panels). A user of any such electronicapparatus operates it by pressing or touching the touch panel with afinger, a pen, a stylus, or a like tool while visually observing thedisplay device through the touch panel. Therefore, a demand exists fortouch panels that are superior in visibility and reliable in operation.

At present, different types of touch panels, including resistance,capacitance, infrared, and surface sound-wave types have been developed.Due to their high accuracy and low cost of production, resistance-typetouch panels have been widely used.

A conventional resistance-type touch panel includes an upper substrate,a transparent upper conductive layer formed on a lower surface of theupper substrate, a lower substrate, a transparent lower conductive layerformed on an upper surface of the lower substrate, and a plurality ofdot spacers formed between the transparent upper conductive layer andthe transparent lower conductive layer. The transparent upper conductivelayer and the transparent lower conductive layer are formed ofelectrically conductive indium tin oxide (ITO).

In operation, an upper surface of the upper substrate is pressed with afinger, a pen, or a like tool, and visual observation of a screen on theliquid crystal display device provided on a back side of the touch panelis provided. This causes the upper substrate to be deformed, and theupper conductive layer thus comes in contact with the lower conductivelayer at the position where the pressing occurs. Voltages are separatelyapplied by an electronic circuit to the transparent upper conductivelayer and the transparent lower conductive layer. Thus, the deformedposition can be detected by the electronic circuit.

Each of the transparent conductive layers (e.g., ITO layers) isgenerally formed by means of ion-beam sputtering, and this method isrelatively complicated. Additionally, the ITO layer has poorwearability/durability, low chemical endurance, and uneven resistanceover an entire area of the touch panel. Furthermore, the ITO layer hasrelatively low transparency. All the above-mentioned problems of the ITOlayer make for a touch panel with low sensitivity, accuracy, andbrightness.

What is needed, therefore, is to provide a durable touch panel and adisplay device using the same with high sensitivity, accuracy, andbrightness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a touch panel includes a first electrode plate, and asecond electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. Thefirst electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductivelayer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate. The secondelectrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductivelayer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate. At least oneof the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes acarbon nanotube layer, and carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube layerare arranged along a same direction.

Other advantages and novel features of the present touch panel anddisplay device using the same will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present touch panel and display device using thesame can be better understood with reference to the following drawings.The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, theemphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principlesof the present touch panel and display device using the same.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a touch panel in accordancewith a present embodiment, showing a first substrate thereof inverted.

FIG. 2 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of the touch panel of FIG.1 once assembled.

FIG. 3 shows a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image of a carbonnanotube film used in the touch panel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a structural schematic of a carbon nanotube segment.

FIG. 5 is essentially a schematic cross-sectional view of the touchpanel of the present embodiment used with a display element of a displaydevice, showing operation of the touch panel with a touch tool.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate at least one embodiment of the present touch panel anddisplay device using the same, in at least one form, and suchexemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe, in detail,embodiments of the present touch panel and display device using thesame.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a touch panel 10 includes a firstelectrode plate 12, a second electrode plate 14, and a plurality of dotspacers 16 located between the first electrode plate 12 and the secondelectrode plate 14.

The first electrode plate 12 includes a first substrate 120, a firstconductive layer 122, and two first-electrodes 124. The first substrate120 includes an upper surface and a lower surface, each of which issubstantially flat. The two first-electrodes 124 and the firstconductive layer 122 are located on the lower surface of the firstsubstrate 120. The two first-electrodes 124 are located separately onopposite ends of the first conductive layer 122. A direction from one ofthe first-electrodes 124 across the first conductive layer 122 to theother first electrode 124 is defined as a first direction. The twofirst-electrodes 124 are electrically connected with the firstconductive layer 122.

The second electrode plate 14 includes a second substrate 140, a secondconductive layer 142, and two second-electrodes 144. The secondsubstrate 140 includes an upper surface and a lower surface, each ofwhich is substantially flat. The two second-electrodes 144 and thesecond conductive layer 142 are located on the upper surface of thesecond substrate 140. The two second-electrodes 144 are locatedseparately on opposite ends of the second conductive layer 142. Adirection from one of the second-electrodes 144 across the secondconductive layer 142 to the other second-electrodes 144 is defined as asecond direction. The two second-electrodes 144 are electricallyconnected with the second conductive layer 142.

The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. That is,the two first-electrodes 124 are aligned parallel to the seconddirection, and the two second-electrodes 144 aligned parallel to thefirst direction. The first substrate 120 is a transparent and flexiblefilm or plate. The second substrate 140 is a transparent plate. Thefirst-electrodes 124 and the second-electrodes 144 are made of metal orany other suitable material. In the present embodiment, the firstsubstrate 120 is a polyester film, the second substrate 140 is a glassplate, and the first-electrodes 124 and second-electrodes 144 are madeof a conductive silver paste.

An insulative layer 18 is provided between the first and the secondelectrode plates 12 and 14. The first electrode plate 12 is located onthe insulative layer 18. The first conductive layer 122 is opposite to,but is spaced from, the second conductive layer 142. The dot spacers 16are separately located on the second conductive layer 142. A distancebetween the second electrode plate 14 and the first electrode plate 12is in an approximate range from 2 to 20 microns. The insulative layer 18and the dot spacers 16 are made of, for example, insulative resin or anyother suitable insulative material. Insulation between the firstelectrode plate 12 and the second electrode plate 14 is provided by theinsulative layer 18 and the dot spacers 16. It is to be understood thatthe dot spacers 16 are optional, particularly when the touch panel 10 isrelatively small. They serve as supports given the size of the span andthe strength of the first electrode plate 12.

A transparent protective film 126 is located on the upper surface of thefirst electrode plate 12. The material of the transparent protectivefilm 126 can be selected from a group consisting of silicon nitrides,silicon dioxides, benzocyclobutenes, polyester films, and polyethyleneterephthalates. The transparent protective film 126 can be made of slickplastic and receive a surface hardening treatment to protect the firstelectrode plate 12 from being scratched when in use.

At least one of the first conductive layer 122 and the second conductivelayer 142 includes a carbon nanotube layer. Such a carbon nanotube layeris formed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes, and the carbon nanotubesin that carbon nanotube layer are arranged along a same direction (i.e.,collinear and/or parallel). The carbon nanotube layer can be atransparent carbon nanotube film or a plurality of transparent carbonnanotube films contiguously disposed side by side. Referring to FIGS. 3and 4, each carbon nanotube film comprises a plurality of successivelyoriented carbon nanotube segments 143 joined end-to-end by van der Waalsattractive force therebetween. Each carbon nanotube segment 143 includesa plurality of carbon nanotubes 145 parallel to each other, and combinedby van der Waals attractive force therebetween. The carbon nanotubesegments 143 can vary in width, thickness, uniformity and shape. Thecarbon nanotubes 145 in the carbon nanotube film 143 are also orientedalong a preferred orientation. A length and a width of the carbonnanotube film can be set as desired. A thickness of the carbon nanotubefilm is in an approximate range from 0.5 nanometers to 100 micrometers.

In one suitable embodiment, the first conductive layer 122 and thesecond conductive layer 142 both include, at a minimum, a carbonnanotube layer. The carbon nanotube layer includes a carbon nanotubefilm, and each carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of successiveand oriented carbon nanotube segments joined end to end by the van derWaals attractive force therebetween. In one suitable embodiment, thecarbon nanotubes in the first conductive layer 122 are oriented along afirst direction, and the carbon nanotubes in the second conductive layer142 are oriented along a second, different direction. It is to beunderstood that some variation can occur in the orientation of thenanotubes in the film as can be seen in FIG. 3.

A method for fabricating an above-described carbon nanotube filmincludes the steps of: (a) providing an array of carbon nanotubes, or,providing a super-aligned array of carbon nanotubes; (b) pulling out acarbon nanotube film from the array of carbon nanotubes, by using a tool(e.g., adhesive tape, pliers, tweezers, or another tool allowingmultiple carbon nanotubes to be gripped and pulled simultaneously).

In step (a), a given super-aligned array of carbon nanotubes can beformed by the substeps of: (a1) providing a substantially flat andsmooth substrate; (a2) forming a catalyst layer on the substrate; (a3)annealing the substrate with the catalyst layer in air at a temperaturein an approximate range from 700° C. to 900° C. for about 30 to 90minutes; (a4) heating the substrate with the catalyst layer to atemperature in the approximate range from 500° C. to 740° C. in afurnace with a protective gas therein; and (a5) supplying a carbonsource gas to the furnace for about 5 to 30 minutes and growing thesuper-aligned array of carbon nanotubes on the substrate.

In step (a1), the substrate can, beneficially, be a P-type siliconwafer, an N-type silicon wafer, or a silicon wafer with a film ofsilicon dioxide thereon. A 4-inch P-type silicon wafer is used as thesubstrate in the present embodiment.

In step (a2), the catalyst can, advantageously, be made of iron (Fe),cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), or any alloy thereof.

In step (a4), the protective gas can, beneficially, be made up of atleast one of nitrogen (N₂), ammonia (NH₃), and a noble gas. In step(a5), the carbon source gas can be a hydrocarbon gas, such as ethylene(C₂H₄), methane (CH₄), acetylene (C₂H₂), ethane (C₂H₆), or anycombination thereof.

The super-aligned array of carbon nanotubes can, opportunely, have aheight of about 50 microns to 5 millimeters and include a plurality ofcarbon nanotubes 145 parallel to each other and approximatelyperpendicular to the substrate. The carbon nanotubes 145 in the array ofcarbon nanotubes can be multi-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walledcarbon nanotubes or single-walled carbon nanotubes. Diameters of thesingle-walled carbon nanotubes approximately range from 0.5 to 50nanometers. Diameters of the double-walled carbon nanotubesapproximately range from 1 to 50 nanometers. Diameters of themulti-walled carbon nanotubes approximately range from 1.5 to 50nanometers.

The super-aligned array of carbon nanotubes formed under the aboveconditions is essentially free of impurities such as carbonaceous orresidual catalyst particles. The carbon nanotubes 145 in thesuper-aligned array are closely packed together by van der Waalsattractive force therebetween.

In step (b), the carbon nanotube film can be formed by the substeps of:(b1) selecting one or more carbon nanotubes having a predetermined widthfrom the array of carbon nanotubes; and (b2) pulling the carbonnanotubes to form nanotube segments 143 at an even/uniform speed toachieve a uniform carbon nanotube film.

In step (b1), quite usefully, the carbon nanotube segment 143 includes aplurality of carbon nanotubes 145 parallel to each other. The carbonnanotube segments 143 can be selected by using an adhesive tape as thetool to contact the super-aligned array of carbon nanotubes. In step(b2), the pulling direction is substantially perpendicular to thegrowing direction of the super-aligned array of carbon nanotubes.

More specifically, during the pulling process, as the initial carbonnanotube segments 143 are drawn out, other carbon nanotube segments 143are also drawn out end to end due to van der Waals attractive forcebetween ends of adjacent carbon nanotube segments 143. This process ofdrawing ensures a substantially continuous and uniform carbon nanotubefilm can be formed.

The carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of carbon nanotubesegments 143. The carbon nanotubes 145 in the carbon nanotube film areall substantially parallel to the pulling/drawing direction of thecarbon nanotube film, and the carbon nanotube film produced in suchmanner can be selectively formed having a predetermined width. Thecarbon nanotube film formed by the pulling/drawing method has superioruniformity of thickness and conductivity over a disordered carbonnanotube film. Further, the pulling/drawing method is simple, fast, andsuitable for industrial applications.

The width of the carbon nanotube film depends on a size of the carbonnanotube array. The length of the carbon nanotube film can bearbitrarily set, as desired. In one useful embodiment, when thesubstrate is a 4-inch type wafer as in the present embodiment, the widthof the carbon nanotube film is in an approximate range from 0.5nanometers to 10 centimeters, and the thickness of the carbon nanotubefilm is in the approximate range from 0.5 nanometers to 100 micrometers.The carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube film can be selected from agroup consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbonnanotubes, and multi-layer carbon nanotubes. A diameter of thesingle-walled carbon nanotube is in an approximate range from 0.5nanometers to 50 nanometers. A diameter of the double-walled carbonnanotube is in an approximate range from 1 nanometer to 50 nanometers. Adiameter of the multi-walled carbon nanotube is in an approximate rangefrom 1.5 nanometers to 50 nanometers.

It is noted that because the carbon nanotubes in the super-alignedcarbon nanotube array have a high purity and a high specific surfacearea, the carbon nanotube film is adherent in nature. As such, the firstcarbon nanotube film can be adhered directly to a surface of the firstsubstrate 120 and/or the second substrate 140.

The carbon nanotube film, once adhered to a surface of the firstsubstrate 120 or the second substrate 140 can be treated with an organicsolvent. The carbon nanotube film can be treated by using organicsolvent to soak the entire surface of the carbon nanotube film. Theorganic solvent is volatilizable and can, suitably, be selected from thegroup consisting of ethanol, methanol, acetone, dichloroethane,chloroform, and combinations thereof. In the present embodiment, theorganic solvent is ethanol. After being soaked by the organic solvent,microscopically, carbon nanotube strings will be formed by adjacentcarbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube film, that are able to do so,bundling together, due to the surface tension of the organic solvent. Inone aspect, part of the carbon nanotubes in the untreated carbonnanotube film that are not adhered on the substrate will adhere on thesubstrate 120,140 after the organic solvent treatment due to the surfacetension of the organic solvent. Then the contacting area of the carbonnanotube film with the substrate will increase, and thus, the carbonnanotube film can more firmly adhere to the surface of the firstsubstrate 120,140. In another aspect, due to the decrease of thespecific surface area via bundling, the mechanical strength andtoughness of the carbon nanotube film are increased and the coefficientof friction of the carbon nanotube films is reduced. Macroscopically,the film will be an approximately uniform carbon nanotube film.

The touch panel 10 can further include a shielding layer (not shown)disposed on the lower surface of the second substrate 140. The materialof the shielding layer can be indium tin oxide, antimony tin oxide,carbon nanotube film, and other conductive materials. In the presentembodiment, the shielding layer is a carbon nanotube film. The carbonnanotube film includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, and theorientation of the carbon nanotubes therein can be arbitrary.Beneficially, however, the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube filmof the shielding layer are arranged along a same direction. The carbonnanotube film is connected to the ground and plays a role of shieldingand, thus, enables the touch panel 10 to operate without interference(e.g., electromagnetic interference).

Referring to FIG. 5, a display device 100 includes the touch panel 10, adisplay element 20, a first controller 30, a central processing unit(CPU) 40, and a second controller 50. The touch panel 10 is opposite andadjacent to the display element 20, and is connected to the firstcontroller 30 by an external circuit. The touch panel 10 can be spacedfrom the display element 20 or installed directly on the display element20. In the illustrated embodiment, the touch panel 10 is spaced from thedisplay element 20, with a gap 26. The first controller 30, the CPU 40,and the second controller 50 are electrically connected. The CPU 40 isconnected to the second controller 50 to control the display element 20.

The display element 20 can be, e.g., a liquid crystal display, a fieldemission display, a plasma display, an electroluminescent display, avacuum fluorescent display, a cathode ray tube, or another displaydevice.

When a shielding layer 22 is located on the lower surface of the secondsubstrate 140, a passivation layer 24 is located on a surface of theshielding layer, on the side away from the second substrate 140. Thematerial of the passivation layer 24 can, for example, be siliconnitride or silicon dioxide. The passivation layer 24 can be spaced fromthe display element 20 a certain distance or can be installed on thedisplay element 20. The passivation layer 24 can protect the shieldinglayer 22 from chemical or mechanical damage.

In operation, 5V are applied to each of the two first-electrodes 124 ofthe first electrode plate 12 and to each of the two second-electrodes144 of the second electrode plate 14. A user operates the display bypressing the first electrode plate 12 of the touch panel 10 with afinger, a pen/stylus 60, or the like while visually observing thedisplay element 20 through the touch panel 10. This pressing causes adeformation 70 of the first electrode plate 12. The deformation 70 ofthe first electrode plate 12 causes a connection between the firstconductive layer 122 and the second conduction layer 142 of the secondelectrode plate 14. Changes in voltages in the first direction of thefirst conductive layer 142 and the second direction of the secondconductive layer 142 can be detected by the first controller 30. Thenthe first controller 30 transforms the changes in voltages intocoordinates of the pressing point, and sends the coordinates of thepressing point to the CPU 40. The CPU 40 then sends out commandsaccording to the coordinates of the pressing point and further controlsthe display of the display element 20.

The properties of the carbon nanotubes provide superior toughness, highmechanical strength, and uniform conductivity to the carbon nanotubefilm. Thus, the touch panel and the display device using the sameadopting the carbon nanotube film are durable and highly conductive.Further, the pulling method for fabricating the carbon nanotube film issimple, and the adhesive carbon nanotube film can be disposed directlyon the substrate. As such, the method for fabricating the carbonnanotube film is suitable for the mass production of touch panels anddisplay devices using the same and reduces the cost thereof. Finally,the carbon nanotube film has a high transparency, thereby promotingimproved brightness of the touch panel and the display device using thesame.

Finally, it is to be understood that the above-described embodiments areintended to illustrate rather than limit the invention. Variations maybe made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of theinvention as claimed. The above-described embodiments illustrate thescope of the invention but do not restrict the scope of the invention.

1. A touch panel comprising: a first electrode plate comprising a firstsubstrate and a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface ofthe first substrate; a second electrode plate separated from the firstelectrode plate and comprising a second substrate and a secondconductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate;and wherein at least one of the first conductive layer and the secondconductive layer comprises a carbon nanotube layer comprised of carbonnanotubes arranged along a same direction.
 2. The touch panel as claimedin claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises a carbonnanotube film or a plurality of coplanar carbon nanotube films.
 3. Thetouch panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carbon nanotube filmcomprises a plurality of successively oriented carbon nanotube segmentsjoined end to end by the van der Waals attractive force therebetween,and each carbon nanotube segment comprising the plurality of carbonnanotubes that are combined by van der Waals attractive forcetherebetween.
 4. The touch panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein athickness of the carbon nanotube film is in an approximate range from0.5 nanometers to 100 micrometers.
 5. The touch panel as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube layer canbe selected from a group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes,double-walled carbon nanotubes, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. 6.The touch panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein a diameter of thesingle-walled carbon nanotubes is in an approximate range from 0.5nanometers to 50 nanometers, a diameter of the double-walled carbonnanotubes is in an approximate range from 1 nanometer to 50 nanometers,and a diameter of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes is in an approximaterange from 1.5 nanometers to 50 nanometers.
 7. The touch panel asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first electrode plate further comprisestwo first-electrodes located separately at opposite ends of the firstconductive layer, a second alignment direction is perpendicular to afirst alignment direction, and each of the two first-electrodes isoriented along the second alignment direction and electrically connectedto the first conductive layer.
 8. The touch panel as claimed in claim 7,wherein the carbon nanotubes in the first conductive layer are orientedalong the first alignment direction.
 9. The touch panel as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the second electrode plate further comprises twosecond-electrodes located separately at opposite ends of the secondconductive layer, and each of the two second-electrodes is orientedalong the first alignment direction and electrically connected to thesecond conductive layer.
 10. The touch panel as claimed in claim 9,wherein the carbon nanotubes in the second conductive layer are orientedalong the second alignment direction.
 11. The touch panel as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising an insulative layer located between thefirst and second electrode plates, and the insulative layer insulatesthe first electrode plate from the second electrode plate.
 12. The touchpanel as claimed in claim 11, wherein one or more of dot spacers arelocated between the first conductive layer and the second conductivelayer.
 13. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising ashielding layer located on a lower surface of the second substrate, andthe material of the shielding layer being selected from the groupconsisting of indium tin oxide, antimony tin oxides, and a carbonnanotube films.
 14. The touch panel as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising a transparent protective film located on an upper surface ofthe first electrode plate, and the material of the transparentprotective film being selected from the group consisting of siliconnitride, silicon oxide, benzocyclobutenes, polyester film, andpolyethylene terephthalate.
 15. A display device comprising: a touchpanel comprising: a first electrode plate comprising a first substrateand a first conductive layer located on a lower surface of the firstsubstrate; a second electrode separated from the first electrode plateand comprising a second substrate and a second conductive layer locatedon an upper surface of the second substrate; and wherein at least one ofthe first conductive layer and the second conductive layer comprises acarbon nanotube layer comprised of carbon nanotubes arranged along asame direction. a display element adjacent to the touch panel.
 16. Thedisplay device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a firstcontroller, a central processing unit, and a second controller; thedisplay element is connected to the first controller, and the centralprocessing unit is connected to the second controller.
 17. The displaydevice as claimed in claim 15, wherein the touch panel is spaced fromthe display element with a distance.
 18. The display device as claimedin claim 15, wherein the touch panel is located on the display element.19. The display device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising apassivation layer located on a surface of the touch panel, and thematerial of the passivation layer being selected from the groupconsisting of silicon nitride and silicon dioxide.